NYT Connections puzzle #952 was published on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Use the spoiler-light clues first, then reveal the category names and complete four-word solution when you are ready.
Spoiler-light hints for Connections #952
These clues identify the general idea of each group without giving away the category labels or words:
- One group is connected to a duck’s features.
- One group contains verbs meaning to destroy or ruin something.
- One group consists of information found on a book jacket.
- One group is made up of surnames belonging to classic Hollywood actors.
Category answers for January 18
The four group themes are:
| Color | Category |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Features of a duck |
| Green | Destroy |
| Blue | Found on a book jacket |
| Purple | Classic Hollywood actors |
Full word list and solution
Warning: the complete answers appear below.
Yellow — FEATURES OF A DUCK
BILL, FEATHERS, WEBBING, WINGS
Green — DESTROY
BREAK, DAMAGE, TOTAL, WRECK
Blue — FOUND ON A BOOK JACKET
AUTHOR, QUOTE, SYNOPSIS, TITLE
Purple — CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ACTORS
COOPER, GRANT, PECK, PRICE
Why the last groups can be deceptive
The actor surnames can initially look like another category. In particular, GRANT and PRICE may suggest money, but here they belong with COOPER and PECK as classic Hollywood actors. The book-jacket group is also a category of things a reader may see around a published book rather than a type of literary genre.
How Connections works
Connections presents 16 words and asks you to find four groups of four related items. You can make up to four mistakes. The game is available through the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. This historical answer guide does not establish current subscription terms.
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A practical way to solve this grid
- Start with the most concrete relationship: the duck anatomy words BILL, FEATHERS, WEBBING and WINGS.
- Look for direct synonyms. BREAK, DAMAGE, TOTAL and WRECK can all mean to destroy or ruin something.
- Separate publishing vocabulary from the remaining words. AUTHOR, QUOTE, SYNOPSIS and TITLE are all found on a book jacket.
- Use the final four surnames—COOPER, GRANT, PECK and PRICE—for the classic-actor category, while checking for misleading alternate meanings.
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